Iran–Turkey relations

The relations between Iran and Turkey have been generally peaceful since the establishment of the Turkish Republic, but sometimes have also been strained. Contentious issues have included the Kurds in Turkey, close Iranian relations with Armenia and Greece, close relations of Turkey with Israel, and Turkish influence in Azerbaijan.

History

April 22, 1926. First "Treaty of Friendship" between Iran and Turkey, signed in Tehran. The basic principles included friendship, neutrality and nonaggression towards each other. The agreement also included possible joint actions to groups in the territories of both countries which would try to disturb peace and security or who would try to change the government of one of the countries. This policy was indirectly aimed at the internal problems both countries had with their Kurdish minorities.Facts|date=July 2008

January 23, 1932. Signing of the first definitive frontier treaty between Turkey and Iran, signed in Tehran. It should be mentioned that the border between Turkey and Iran is one of the oldest in the world and has stayed more or less the same since the Battle of Chaldiran in 1514. In other words, this 1932 treaty was basically the rubber-stamping of the centuries old status quo. On the same day the countries signed a new Treaty of Friendship, as well as a Treaty of Conciliation, Judicial Settlement and Arbitration.

June 16 - July 2, 1934. Reza Shah Pahlavi visits Turkey, together with a mission of high-ranking officials, among which General Hassan Arfa, at the invitation of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. Several regions in Turkey were visited and attempts at close friendship and cooperation between the two leaders were made. Reza Shah Pahlavi was reportedly impressed by the modern republic's modernization reforms and he saw this as an example for his own country.

July 8, 1937. A Treaty of Non-aggression is signed between Turkey, Iran, Iraq and Afghanistan. This treaty will be known as the Sa'adabad Pact. The purpose of this agreement was to ensure security and peace in the Near East.

August 1955. Establishment of CENTO (Central Treaty Organization), a mutual security-pact between Iran, Turkey, Iraq, Pakistan and Britain.

July 1964. Establishment of RCD (Regional Cooperation for Development), aimed at joint economic projects between Turkey, Iran and Pakistan.

Present state

A period of coldness passed after the 1979 Iranian Revolution which caused major changes in Iran and the world's status quo. Today Iran and Turkey cooperate in a wide variety of fields that range from fighting terrorism, drug trafficking, and promoting stability in Iraq and Central Asia. Iran and Turkey also have very close trade and economic relations. Both countries are part of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO). Turkey receives many Iranian tourists each year and economically benefits from Iranian tourism. [citation|title=Turkey, Iran ready to bolster tourism|newspaper=Turkish daily news|year=2006|date=June 19|url=http://www.turkishdailynews.com.tr/article.php?enewsid=46608]

Bilateral trade between the nations is increasing. In 2005, the trade increased to $4 billion from $1 billion in 2000.citation|last=Schleifer|first=Yigal|title=Caught in the fray: Turkey enters debate on Iran's nuclear program|newspaper=CS Monitor|year=2006|date=February 02|url=http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/0202/p05s01-woeu.html]

ee also

*Foreign relations of Iran
*Persian-Ottoman relations

References

External links

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